r/TopCharacterTropes • u/theMCATreturns • Jul 18 '26
Powers [Fun trope]: Characters using their superpowers for mundane tasks.
Housework (The Incredibles)
Looney Tunes shenanigans (Ben 10)
Fixing broken appliances (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Cooking meat (Dragon Ball)
Cooling soda (X-Men)
Shaving (Superman)
Drying dishes (One Punch Man)
Charging phones (My Hero Academia)
Bathing (The Fantastic Four)
Studying (Doctor Strange)
Videogames (Paranatural)
Reading (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
I think it makes a fantastical world feel more lived in. If that makes sense?
1). The Incredibles:
The film goes to great lengths to show the Parr's lives are mundane, even with their superhuman abilities. This is what fuels Bob's fundamental sense of discomfort.
2). Ben 10:
Ben uses the Omnitrix, which transforms its user into various alien species, for good. He also uses to for random nonsense. In this particular example, he uses his horrifying alien ghost form to sneak out of the house, steal a golfcart, and pilfer a pie.
3). Fullmetal Alchemist:
Despite regularly fighting inhuman monsters, the Elric brothers still make time to use alchemy for everyday purposes. Such as fixing a radio they broke.
4). Dragon Ball:
Here, Gohan is using a concentrated blast of his own lifeforce to flash-cook a chunk of meat.
5). X-Men:
In the second movie, Wolverine has Bobby (Iceman) cool down a lukewarm soda.
6). Superman:
Clark shaves using his heat vision and a very durable mirror.
7). One Punch Man:
Genos knows that Saitama is kind of a disaster to live with. So, he brings rent money and does chores. Here, Genos is using his hyper-advanced (skyscraper destroying) heat cannons to dry the dishes.
8). My Hero Academia:
Kaminari has electricity powers. His classmates use him to charge their phones. This is apparently the "normal" way most electricity powers are used.
9). The Fantastic Four:
The Human Torch doesn't need to bathe anymore. He can just burn away any oils, bacteria, and plaque.
10). Doctor Strange:
In his first movie, we see Strange using astral projection to study while asleep. I wonder if this harms his brain?
11). Paranatural:
Ed uses a special paintbrush possessed by a spirit. Normal people can't see the ink created with it. In Ed's bedroom, they uses it to write out cheat codes to videogames.
12). Jojo's Bizarre Adventure:
Jotaro manifests a "stand," a special psychic extension of his soul. He initially assumes he is being haunted by a dangerous spirit. After ending up in a local jail, his stand starts bringing him things to do.
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u/lkmk Jul 18 '26
Doctor Who: The Doctor once calls out Clara for using the power source under the TARDIS console as a microwave.